1939: Beginn des Zweiten Weltkrieges

zeitzeugen-portal

26 Aug 201104:01

Summary

TLDROn September 1, 1939, World War II began with Germany's invasion of Poland, marked by air raids and the shelling of Westerplatte. Hitler's ambitions extended beyond reclaiming lost territories to the annihilation of Poland, initiating the war with a lie about Polish aggression. Despite being vastly outmatched, Polish soldiers fought valiantly, even charging with cavalry against machine guns. Within weeks, Warsaw was declared a fortress, enduring bombings, and eventually capitulated to the German Wehrmacht. The Soviet Union, in a non-aggression pact with Hitler, invaded from the east, leading to the war against civilians, the arrest, and execution of Jews and intellectuals. The capitulation of Warsaw signaled a defeated Poland, unaware of the horrors of occupation that lay ahead.

Takeaways

🗓️ World War II began on September 1, 1939, with Germany launching air attacks on Poland and the shelling of the Westerplatte by the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein.
📜 The script describes the immediate impact of the war on the narrator's life, with the shaking of mailboxes and the clarity of windowpanes signaling the outbreak of war.
🎥 Nazi propaganda played a role in shaping the narrative of the war, with extensive efforts to place Germany in a favorable light in the media.
🇵🇱 Despite the British and French declaration of war on Germany in support of Poland, military aid to Poland was lacking, leading to a swift German advance.
🚀 Germany's military superiority with tanks and aircraft was overwhelming, allowing the Wehrmacht to quickly break through Polish defenses.
🏰 The Polish soldiers fought with desperate courage, even charging with cavalry against machine gun positions, which ultimately proved futile against the German forces.
💣 Warsaw was declared a fortress and was heavily bombed by the German Luftwaffe, leading to its eventual capitulation after two weeks of fighting.
🤝 Prior to the war, Hitler and Soviet dictator Stalin had agreed not to attack each other and to divide Poland between them, leading to the war against the civilian population behind the front lines.
🕊️ The war against civilians included the persecution of Jews, the Polish intelligentsia, and other perceived enemies, who were arrested, deported, and executed.
🏳️ Warsaw's capitulation marked a turning point, with 120,000 Polish defenders surrendering the city to German General von Blaskowitz.
😔 The narrator and other Poles were left feeling defeated and uncertain about their future, with families destroyed and the fear of not knowing if they would ever return to Poland.

Q & A

What significant historical event is described at the beginning of the script?
-The script describes the beginning of World War II on September 1, 1939, with German air attacks on Poland.
What was the significance of the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein's actions?
-The German battleship Schleswig-Holstein fired on the Westerplatte in Danzig, marking a significant military action at the start of the war.
How did the narrator describe the immediate reaction to the outbreak of war?
-The narrator describes a sense of shock and realization that war had begun, with someone screaming from a nearby house and the sound of windows rattling.
What was the role of the German propaganda machine during the initial stages of the war?
-The German propaganda machine, as mentioned in the script, was heavily involved in shaping the narrative of the war, including staging scenes for the cameras.
What was Hitler's ultimate goal regarding Poland, according to the script?
-Hitler's ultimate goal was not just the reconnection of territories separated from Germany after World War I but also the annihilation of Poland.
How did the German military strategy during the invasion of Poland manifest?
-The German military strategy involved two army groups with around 1.5 million men, using their superiority in tanks and aircraft to quickly break through Polish defenses.
What was the situation of the Polish soldiers during the conflict as described in the script?
-The Polish soldiers fought with desperate courage, sometimes even charging machine gun positions with cavalry columns, leading to tragic outcomes when encountering tanks.
What did the Germans do to Warsaw on September 17, as mentioned in the script?
-On September 17, the German Luftwaffe began bombing Warsaw, turning the city into a fortress where the Polish continued to fight.
What agreement did Hitler and Stalin make prior to the invasion of Poland?
-Hitler and Stalin had agreed not to attack each other and to divide Poland between them, as per the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
What actions were taken against the Polish civilians and specific groups during the war?
-The script mentions that Jews, the Polish intelligentsia, and other perceived enemies were arrested, deported, and executed behind the front lines.
How did the Polish defenders of Warsaw eventually fare, and what did they do?
-After several weeks of fighting, Warsaw capitulated, with 120,000 Polish defenders surrendering the city to the German Wehrmacht General von Blaskowitz.
What was the emotional state of the narrator and other Poles after the capitulation of Warsaw?
-The narrator and other Poles felt defeated and uncertain about their future, with families destroyed and people being taken away, not knowing if they would ever return to Poland.
What did the German commander announce on the day of the ceasefire, and what did the narrator and other Poles not anticipate?
-The German commander announced that the war was over and they had won. However, the narrator and other Poles did not anticipate the true scale of the war and the crimes of the occupation that would befall millions of Poles, especially Jews.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Outbreak of World War II

The script describes the onset of World War II on September 1, 1939, with German air attacks on Poland and the shelling of the Westerplatte by the German battleship Schleswig-Holstein. It recounts the immediate awareness of war as the narrator's mailbox trembled and windows rattled. The narrative includes the propaganda efforts of the Nazi regime, as well as the fighting between Germans and Poles in Danzig, resulting in many deaths. The text conveys a deep sadness over the loss of acquaintances and the inhumanity of war. Hitler's intentions are highlighted, not just to reclaim territories lost after World War I, but also to annihilate Poland, which he initiated with a lie about Poland attacking German territory first. The overwhelming German military superiority with tanks and aircraft is mentioned, contrasting with the Polish soldiers' desperate and courageous resistance, even charging with cavalry against machine gun positions. After two weeks of war, the hopeless situation becomes clear to Poland, yet they continue to fight, declaring Warsaw a fortress and enduring bombings by the German Luftwaffe. The entry of the Red Army is also noted, following a pre-war agreement between Hitler and Soviet dictator Stalin to divide Poland between them. The war also targets the civilian population, with Jews, the Polish intelligentsia, and other perceived enemies being arrested, deported, and executed. Warsaw eventually capitulates, and the Polish defenders surrender to the German commander, von Blaskowitz. The script ends with the narrator and other Poles feeling defeated and uncertain about their future, unaware of the horrors that the occupation would bring, especially for millions of Poles, primarily Jews.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Second World War

The Second World War, also known as World War II, was a global conflict that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's nations, including all of the great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis. In the script, the war is mentioned as starting with German air attacks on Poland, marking the beginning of a devastating period in world history.

💡Schleswig-Holstein

The 'Schleswig-Holstein' refers to the German battleship that fired on the Westerplatte in Danzig, an event that is often cited as the beginning of the German invasion of Poland. This act is symbolic of the military aggression that characterized the onset of the war in the script.

💡Nazi Propaganda

Nazi propaganda was a powerful tool used by the German government to manipulate public opinion during the Second World War. The script mentions it in the context of the German media setting the scene for the invasion of Poland, suggesting a deliberate effort to shape the narrative and justify the war to the German public.

💡Westerplatte

Westerplatte is a peninsula in the Port of Gdańsk, Poland, and the site of the first battle of the Polish Defensive War of 1939. The script describes the attack on Westerplatte as a significant event that marked the escalation of the conflict.

💡Hitler

Adolf Hitler was the leader of the Nazi Party and the Chancellor of Germany from 1933 to 1945. His aggressive policies and expansionist ambitions are central to the narrative of the Second World War. In the script, Hitler's goals of annexing territories and the destruction of Poland are highlighted, showing his role in instigating the war.

💡Panzers

Panzers were German tanks used extensively during World War II and were a symbol of the Wehrmacht's military power. The script mentions the overwhelming superiority of German Panzers over the Polish forces, illustrating the disparity in military technology and capability.

💡Cavalry

Cavalry refers to a branch of an army that fights mounted on horseback. The script poignantly describes Polish cavalry charging against machine gun positions, symbolizing the bravery but also the futility of traditional military tactics against modern warfare.

💡Warsaw

Warsaw is the capital of Poland and was a significant battleground during the Second World War. The script describes the city being declared a fortress and bombed by the German Luftwaffe, highlighting the brutality of the conflict and the suffering of the civilian population.

💡Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, named after the foreign ministers of the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany, was a non-aggression treaty signed in 1939. The script mentions the pact in the context of Hitler and Stalin agreeing not to attack each other and to divide Poland between them, which had significant geopolitical implications for the war.

💡Wehrmacht

The Wehrmacht was the unified armed forces of Nazi Germany from 1935 to 1945. It played a central role in the military campaigns of World War II. The script refers to the Wehrmacht's rapid advance through Polish defenses, showcasing the military's efficiency and the dire situation faced by Poland.

💡Holocaust

The Holocaust was a genocide during World War II in which Nazi Germany, aided by its collaborators, systematically murdered approximately six million European Jews. It is mentioned in the script as a tragic consequence of the war, underscoring the immense human suffering caused by the conflict.

Highlights

World War II begins with German air attacks on Poland on September 1, 1939.

German battleship Schleswig-Holstein fires on Westerplatte, Danzig, marking the start of hostilities.

Nazi propaganda machine swings into action, depicting the conflict as a response to Polish aggression.

Fighting breaks out in Danzig between Germans and Poles, resulting in many deaths.

Hitler's goals include not only the re-annexation of territories lost after WWI but also the destruction of Poland.

Germany invades Poland with two army groups totaling around 1.5 million men, intending to overwhelm the Polish defenses.

Despite Britain and France declaring war on Germany in support of Poland, military aid fails to materialize.

German military superiority in tanks and aircraft proves overwhelming against the Polish forces.

Polish soldiers fight with desperate courage, some even charging machine gun positions with cavalry.

The Polish cavalry's first charge initially breaches the German lines but then encounters tanks.

After two weeks of fighting, the hopeless situation becomes clear to the Polish forces, yet they continue to resist.

Warsaw is declared a fortress as the German Luftwaffe bombs the city on September 17, 1939.

The Soviet Union invades Poland shortly before the war, as part of a secret agreement with Hitler to divide the country.

Behind the front lines, the war against the civilian population begins, with Jews, the Polish intelligentsia, and others being arrested, deported, and executed.

Warsaw capitulates after several weeks of fighting, with 120,000 Polish defenders surrendering to the German general von Blaskowitz.

The Polish people are demoralized, with families destroyed and people displaced, uncertain if they will ever return to Poland.

On the day of the ceasefire, the German commander announces victory, unaware that the war is just beginning in earnest.

The crimes of the occupation period are yet to come, with millions of Poles, especially Jews, falling victim to atrocities.